Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a paint painting by the Baroque artist Kano Motonobu. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created by Kano Motonobu in 1607, the painting focuses on this specific human activity rather than a complex narrative or allegorical scene.
The work depicts a solitary man engaged in fishing, set within a landscape environment. Created by Kano Motonobu in 1607, the painting focuses on this specific human activity rather than a complex narrative or allegorical scene. The imagery centers on the figure and the act of fishing, presenting a direct representation of this daily pursuit.
As a landscape genre piece, the composition prioritizes the depiction of the man and his interaction with the natural setting.
Technique & Style
Created in 1607 by Kanō Motonobu, this landscape painting employs color applied directly onto a paper support. The work measures 21 cm in height and 50.2 cm in width. Stylistically, the composition focuses on a figurative scene depicting a man engaged in the act of fishing.
As a piece from the early seventeenth century originating in Japan, it exemplifies the application of pigment on paper characteristic of the period's pictorial traditions.
History & Provenance
Kano Motonobu's Untitled was created in 1607, executed in color on paper as a landscape depicting a fishing scene with a man. The work was produced in Japan and subsequently entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently held.
Legacy
The painting Untitled (1607) by Kano Motonobu exemplifies early Edo‑period Japanese landscape art and is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, where it is studied as a representative work of the Kanō school. Its depiction of a fisherman in a riverine setting reflects the genre’s emphasis on naturalistic detail and compositional balance, a characteristic noted in contemporary scholarship on the artist. The work’s inclusion in a prominent museum collection has contributed to ongoing research on the development of landscape painting in Japan, reinforcing Motonobu’s reputation beyond his more widely known decorative panels.
Overview
Kano Motonobu's Untitled work, created in 1607, is a painting rendered with color on paper. This piece presents a tranquil landscape scene, focusing on a solitary figure engaged in the act of fishing. The artwork offers a glimpse into a specific moment, characteristic of the artist's broader engagement with natural themes and everyday activities within a landscape setting.
Artist & collection
